BALANCE

'Tamale Lawyer' to dish out start-up tale at YWCA lunch

Dubbed the "Tamale Lawyer," Nancy Andrade gave up her work in securities law to dish out her mother's Mexican recipe.

"All is well in Tamaleland," said Andrade, president and legal counsel at Mexifeast Foods Inc. in Chicago.

YWCA board members in Lake County have tapped Andrade to be their keynote speaker for their annual Circle of Women Luncheon and Conference on Friday at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort.

She made the career change after getting so many orders from co-workers for her mother's homemade tamale -- seasoned meat and corn dough wrapped in a softened corn husk.

Andrade launched the company in 2001, while working part-time at the Chicago Legal Clinic. In the next several years, Andrade worked on a business plan, secured financing and found a plant that could produce the tamales.

She hit the jackpot in 2007, when the Chicago Wal-Mart signed on as a customer.

From then on, Andrade started working on her tamales full-time and was joined by her two brothers. Their tamale found its way onto grocery shelves at Jewel and Whole Foods.

For Andrade, whose parents emigrated from Mexico, the struggle to establish the business was worth the effort.

"I knew nothing about the food industry, but it was something I wanted to do," said Andrade, 41.

"I think the fact that I am Latino is a bonus. There are not a lot of women in the food industry -- much less women of color," she added. "Knowing that made it very flattering and very humbling ... and I like serving as an inspiration."

In today's tough economic climate, the YWCA wanted to do more for its participants by providing them with suggestions on not only how to stay competitive but also how to be fiscally responsible. Conference organizers decided this year to provide workshop topics ranging from personal financial management to strategies on long-term investments.

"The workshops are meant to help educate women," said Gail Polzin, event co-chairwoman. "People are looking for good practical information."

One workshop will stress the use of social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter to communicate with clients. "Starting a Business and Building it Through Social Media" will be led by Kate Koziol, president of K Squared Communications in Chicago.

"People who are not participating in social networking are going to get left out of the conversation," said Koziol, whose company advises businesses on marketing and communications.